Zenith is a Swiss luxury watch brand that was founded in 1865 in Le Locle, Switzerland. The company is known for producing high-quality watches with precision engineering and elegant designs. Zenith has a long history of innovation in the watch industry, and it has won numerous awards for its timepieces.
One of Zenith’s most famous watch models is the El Primero. This watch was first introduced in 1969 and was one of the world’s first automatic chronograph watches. The El Primero is known for its accuracy and reliability, and it’s still produced by Zenith today.
Another popular Zenith watch is the Defy. This watch is known for its futuristic design and advanced materials, including titanium and carbon fiber. The Defy features a skeletonized dial that showcases the watch’s intricate movement and mechanism.
Zenith has also produced several limited edition and special edition watches over the years. For example, the brand has collaborated with famous musicians, including Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, to create unique and limited edition watches.
Overall, Zenith is a highly respected luxury watch brand that offers a range of high-quality timepieces. Whether you’re looking for a classic and elegant dress watch or a modern and innovative sports watch, Zenith has a watch that’s sure to impress.
Zenith traces its history to 1843, making it one of the oldest Swiss watch manufacturers. Zenith is best known for the high beat El Primero movement – revolutionary when first created, and still powering some of the finest watches ever produced. Please join us as we discuss Zenith.
1865
Georges-Emile Favre-Bulle founds “Georges Favre-Jacot & Cie.” From the beginning, he uses standardized interchangeable parts for his watches and aims at high precision.
1875
Ten years after the company was founded, it employs one third of the working population of Le Locle.
1896
The company is awarded a Gold Medal at the Swiss Z6National Fair in Geneva.
1900
The movement named “Zenith” (It called, “Terminus” before) gave the name to all products of George Favre-Jacot & Cie. in the early 20th century.
1900
The company wins a Gold Medal at the World Fair in Paris.
1903
First prize in a precision contest of the Neuenburg observatory.
1908
Branch office in Moscow (Other branch offices: Paris 1909, Vienna 1910, London 1914, New York 1926). The Italian State Railways buy 8,500 Zenith watches for their employees.
1909
Zenith watch sets a new precision record at the Z7Neuenburg observatory with 22.8 points. The previous record had been 19.9 points.
1910
Another Zenith watch even tops this result with a new record of 24.3 points.
1911
At the age of 67, Georges Favre-Bulle retires. The company is renamed to “Fabrique des Montres Zenith”
1915
Zenith produces the first wristwatches.
1917
Georges-Emile Favre-Bulle dies on May 19 at the age of 73.
1929
In a precision contest of the Kew Observatory (England), a Zenith watch wins the first prize (among 19,835 watches from all over the world) with a daily rate of 0.6 seconds.
1967
The 22”’ pocket watch caliber 5011 K, introduced in 1960, sets a new – and still valid! – record for precision in its class at the Neuenburg Observatory contest.
To date, Zenith has won 1,565 first prizes in observatory precision contests – this is the world record.
Please remember that this is an unofficial account of the history of this company, Should you happen to find any mistakes with our information then please let us know at Contact Us